Though this is clearly a "B" movie, the story the script was taken from was written by Stanley Weinbaum. Mr Weinbaum ranked right up there with Isaac Asimov as a science fiction writer in his time. The story was published in 1934 under the title "The Adaptive Ultimate." The story is quite good, especially considering it was written almost ninety years ago.
Casting is excellent. With Albert Dekker as Dr Boch, Jack Kelly as Dr Scott, & Mari Blanchard as Kyra. Ms. Blanchard adds an interesting touch to the film due to her unusual beauty. She has wideset eyes and a triangular face that comes to a near point at the chin. It reminds me of the head of a preying mantis.
Except for the aforementioned stiff line delivery, the movie is quite good with an interesting story and excellent effects. (Kyra changes her hair color from brunette to blonde, on camera, while moving). Some of the best lap-dissolve work I've ever seen.
Plot: Dr Scott has developed a serum that seems to be able to effect a cure on any mammal it is given to. He has experimented on a chimpanzee, a cat, a dog, and a panther. All had life ending injuries and all completely recovered. Only the panther displayed an interesting side-effect; it changed color from tawny brown to solid black. Dr. Scott wants to experiment on a human and he consults his mentor, Dr. Boch, about doing just that. Boch is clear that it is unethical to experiment on a human being, and agrees to supply one to Dr. Scott only if that human is certain to die without treatment. That human must also give consent, which Dr. Scott feels is likely impossible.
Nevertheless, days later Dr. Boch has just such a patient, one Kyra Zelas who is suffering from terminal tuberculosis. Dr. Scott injects Kyra with 10cc of the serum, and six hours later she seems to be making a recover. Within a week, she is well enough to be discharged. Drs. Scott and Boch don't want to release her back into the public because they want to continue to study her, so they offer Kyra the opportunity to live with them, and make it clear that the reason is so they can study her. It's also clear the Dr. Scott is more than slightly interested in her. Kyra may also have an attraction for Dr. Scott, but her repeated lying makes this questionable. After all, Kyra has changed from an ill, greasy haired, near skeleton, to a vivacious tantalizing beauty. Ms. Zelas readily accepts the offer and Dr. Boch gives her his home address and cab fare.
On the way to the taxi stand, Zelas stops in a dress store, sees a dress she wants (marked at $245), and then witnesses an older man pull out a wallet stuffed with bills to pay for a much younger woman's wardrobe. Zelas approaches the man as he stands at the counter to pay, and demands the money. When he refuses Zelas grabs the money. When the older man attempts to get the money back, Zelas grabs a large glass ashtray from the counter and hits the man in the head, nearly killing him. She then rushes into a changing room to hide. When the police arrive the begin going to each dressing room, searching for a woman in a black dress with black hair. As Kyra stands there, waiting for a sure arrest, her hair color changes from black to platinum blond. She sees this in a mirror in the room, ditches the black dress, and grabs a robe in the room. When she opens the door, the police see a blond, apologize, and Kyra makes her escape, after buying the expensive dress with the $700 of stolen loot.
This is the first of many murders she commits before Boch and Scott figure out how to sedate her and attempt to return her to normal.
After Dr. Boch removes the pineal gland, Kyra falls ill again with tuberculosis and dies. Her death is the end of the movie.
Story and Movie Differences: In the book, Kyra kills one older man in a park in order to rob him. There are numerous witnesses and she's put on trial. Before being called to the witness stand, her hair changes color, under a hat she's wearing, and the case is dismissed because she is clearly a platinum blond with silver eyes, and the witnesses say a brunet with pale blue eyes.
Kyra's hair, skin, and eye color change with the time of day.
Kyra leaves the doctors to seek her fortune, and begins an affair with the Secretary of the Treasury. As time passes, she is mentioned in the press more and more often.
She returns for a two day visit with the doctors, and muses aloud how she might become empress (of the planet or the USA is not clear). The doctors decide to act before she leaves. They remove the pineal gland, which Dr. Boch has determined is the root of the problem. It was grown overlarge and it is influencing both Kyra's attitudes and adaptability. As Dr. Scott watches her return to her old self, he remarks upon her beauty (which Dr Boch determines only Scott can see) and the story ends. Kyra does not die in the story.
Casting is excellent. With Albert Dekker as Dr Boch, Jack Kelly as Dr Scott, & Mari Blanchard as Kyra. Ms. Blanchard adds an interesting touch to the film due to her unusual beauty. She has wideset eyes and a triangular face that comes to a near point at the chin. It reminds me of the head of a preying mantis.
Except for the aforementioned stiff line delivery, the movie is quite good with an interesting story and excellent effects. (Kyra changes her hair color from brunette to blonde, on camera, while moving). Some of the best lap-dissolve work I've ever seen.
Plot: Dr Scott has developed a serum that seems to be able to effect a cure on any mammal it is given to. He has experimented on a chimpanzee, a cat, a dog, and a panther. All had life ending injuries and all completely recovered. Only the panther displayed an interesting side-effect; it changed color from tawny brown to solid black. Dr. Scott wants to experiment on a human and he consults his mentor, Dr. Boch, about doing just that. Boch is clear that it is unethical to experiment on a human being, and agrees to supply one to Dr. Scott only if that human is certain to die without treatment. That human must also give consent, which Dr. Scott feels is likely impossible.
Nevertheless, days later Dr. Boch has just such a patient, one Kyra Zelas who is suffering from terminal tuberculosis. Dr. Scott injects Kyra with 10cc of the serum, and six hours later she seems to be making a recover. Within a week, she is well enough to be discharged. Drs. Scott and Boch don't want to release her back into the public because they want to continue to study her, so they offer Kyra the opportunity to live with them, and make it clear that the reason is so they can study her. It's also clear the Dr. Scott is more than slightly interested in her. Kyra may also have an attraction for Dr. Scott, but her repeated lying makes this questionable. After all, Kyra has changed from an ill, greasy haired, near skeleton, to a vivacious tantalizing beauty. Ms. Zelas readily accepts the offer and Dr. Boch gives her his home address and cab fare.
On the way to the taxi stand, Zelas stops in a dress store, sees a dress she wants (marked at $245), and then witnesses an older man pull out a wallet stuffed with bills to pay for a much younger woman's wardrobe. Zelas approaches the man as he stands at the counter to pay, and demands the money. When he refuses Zelas grabs the money. When the older man attempts to get the money back, Zelas grabs a large glass ashtray from the counter and hits the man in the head, nearly killing him. She then rushes into a changing room to hide. When the police arrive the begin going to each dressing room, searching for a woman in a black dress with black hair. As Kyra stands there, waiting for a sure arrest, her hair color changes from black to platinum blond. She sees this in a mirror in the room, ditches the black dress, and grabs a robe in the room. When she opens the door, the police see a blond, apologize, and Kyra makes her escape, after buying the expensive dress with the $700 of stolen loot.
This is the first of many murders she commits before Boch and Scott figure out how to sedate her and attempt to return her to normal.
After Dr. Boch removes the pineal gland, Kyra falls ill again with tuberculosis and dies. Her death is the end of the movie.
Story and Movie Differences: In the book, Kyra kills one older man in a park in order to rob him. There are numerous witnesses and she's put on trial. Before being called to the witness stand, her hair changes color, under a hat she's wearing, and the case is dismissed because she is clearly a platinum blond with silver eyes, and the witnesses say a brunet with pale blue eyes.
Kyra's hair, skin, and eye color change with the time of day.
Kyra leaves the doctors to seek her fortune, and begins an affair with the Secretary of the Treasury. As time passes, she is mentioned in the press more and more often.
She returns for a two day visit with the doctors, and muses aloud how she might become empress (of the planet or the USA is not clear). The doctors decide to act before she leaves. They remove the pineal gland, which Dr. Boch has determined is the root of the problem. It was grown overlarge and it is influencing both Kyra's attitudes and adaptability. As Dr. Scott watches her return to her old self, he remarks upon her beauty (which Dr Boch determines only Scott can see) and the story ends. Kyra does not die in the story.